Rep. Allen West: Herman Cain Is a ‘Distraction’

If Republican presidential hopeful Herman Cain asked Rep. Allen West for advice, the Florida Republican and tea party favorite said Wednesday he would tell Mr. Cain that his candidacy has become a “distraction” and that “we should move on.”

Rep. Allen West during a tea party town hall meeting on Feb. 8, 2011 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

After Ginger White of Georgia said on Monday that she had a 13-year affair with the married Mr. Cain, numerous Republicans have said Mr. Cain’s time in the race is up. Mr. West appeared to join that chorus Wednesday during an interview on the WMAL Morning Majority radio show. Mr. Cain has denied having an affair and told his staff Tuesday that he is “reassessing” his campaign.

“Beyond reassessing his campaign, he probably needs to understand that he is a distracter for what’s going on right now and we should move on,” Mr. West said. “That would be my advice to him.”

Mr. West’s office would not elaborate. His spokeswoman said the congressman has no opinion on whether Mr. Cain should drop out of the race.

Also on the show, the first-term lawmaker said he would be open to being Newt Gingrich’s running mate, should the former House speaker win the nomination race. “If people in this country believe that I can make a difference and that I can help to get our country back on track… If I can make a difference, then I’ll answer that call,” Mr. West said.

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